Union Pacific Corporation has announced that David B. Dillon has been elected to the company’s board of directors, effective immediately. The board also voted to elect the company’s chief executive officer Jack Koraleski, chairman of the board.

Dillon, 62, is the chairman of The Kroger Co., based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Kroger employs 375,000 associates who serve customers in more than 3,700 supermarkets, convenience and jewelry stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia. Kroger also operates 38 U.S. food processing plants. Dillon has served in a variety of leadership roles within The Kroger Co., beginning in 1990 with his appointment as executive vice president. In 1995, Dillon was named president and chief operating officer and he served as chief executive officer from 2003 - 2013. Dillon is a member of the board of directors of DirecTV and also serves on the board of trustees for the University of Cincinnati Foundation, the board of trustees for the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati, the board of trustees for the University of Kansas Endowment, and the board of directors for Catalyst.

“Dave understands rail operations from a customer point of view,” said Koraleski. “Having led a large retail business, Dave brings a unique perspective and strong knowledge of complex logistics operations to Union Pacific.”

Dillon earned a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Kansas and a law degree from Southern Methodist University.

Koraleski, 63, succeeds the late Jim Young, who served as Union Pacific Corporation chairman from January 2007 until his death in February 2014. Since joining the railroad in 1972, Koraleski has served in a number of senior leadership roles, including controller of Union Pacific Corporation, executive vice president of Marketing and Sales and executive vice president of Finance and Information Technology for Union Pacific Railroad. He was named president and chief executive officer in March 2012, and was elected to the board of directors in July 2012.

Koraleski is a member of the national advisory committee for the College of Business Administration at the University of Nebraska Omaha, and honorary member of the board of directors of the Nebraska Methodist Hospital and the Nebraska Methodist Hospital Foundation. He also serves on the advisory board of the Women’s Center for Advancement. He earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska Omaha.